APARTMENT HUNT.

An updated one-bedroom in an updated McClurg Court

December 09, 2001|By Annemarie Mannion. Special to the Tribune.

When McClurg Court Center was built in 1972, it was at the forefront of the concept of creating a city within a city, enabling tenants to reach a range of amenities and services without ever leaving their building.

The two-tower apartment complex, however, is not resting on its laurels. It recently completed a four-year renovation that resulted in the addition of blond wood desks, glass doors and new carpet to update public spaces and an overhauling of the interiors of the 1,075 units that include studios, convertibles, one- and two-bedrooms.

The apartments, including the one-bedroom unit we visited, have fresh coats of paint and carpet, new white cabinets and vanities, appliances and ceramic tile floors in the kitchens and bathrooms.

The towers, each 45 stories, stand at 333 E. Ontario St. and at 600 N. McClurg Ct. Their exteriors are of brown brick and feature rows of large windows, many of which allow dramatic views of the city and of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan.

Although the interiors of the units have been updated, some things -- Chicago's winter weather, for instance -- have not. The onsite amenities: a multi-screen movie theater, a convenience store, health club, dentist, deli and dry cleaners, remain a popular draw, especially when winds are whipping pedestrians' faces on city streets and when snow turns into thick, gray slush on feet.

Tenant discounts

Residents of McClurg Court Center can take advantage of some of these amenities at a reduced cost. Tickets to the movies, for instance, cost about half the price if they are purchased after the first 10 days of a film's run. Membership in the health club, managed by Lakeshore Athletic Club, is $65 a month for tenants (normal price is $75).

McClurg Court Center is located on streets that teem with activity from trucks making deliveries to nearby restaurants to people rushing to work or heading toward shopping on Michigan Avenue. Transportation, such as buses along Michigan Avenue, are within a few blocks.

The front door of the one-bedroom unit opens into an entry foyer that is carpeted in beige and has a double closet.

An open doorway from the foyer leads into the 9.5-by-nearly-9-foot kitchen. Although the room is not huge, it seems larger because of an opening that separates it from the dining room.

Just below the opening is a breakfast bar where a stool could be placed for quick meals. The kitchen is decorated mostly in white and has new white appliances, including a dishwasher and built-in microwave. Doing the laundry, however, would require a trip to the building's common laundry room.

The kitchen also has a white tile backsplash, pale beige counters and paneled cabinet doors on the white cabinets.

Color could be added in the form of plants or decorative wicker baskets displayed between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling.

Doing dishes after dinner might be made an easier task if two people were doing them and if dishes were passed through the window that separates the kitchen and dining rooms.

The dining room, which would accommodate a four-seat table and chairs, adjoins the living room. Together, these spaces are 22 feet, 1 inch by 14 feet, 9 inches.

Windows and views

The living room has a wall of windows with a view of the CBS building across the street and of another landmark -- the brilliant blue tower of the former American Furniture Mart, now a condominium building at 680 N. Lakeshore Drive. Although the view here may not be as dramatic as those from higher floors, it provides a glimpse of an often busy city scene of cars and pedestrians passing on the street below.

Rent at McClurg Court vary according to square footage, floor and views. The rent for a one-bedroom such as the one we visited ranges from $1,250 to $1,450.

A short hallway from the living room leads to the bathroom and the bedroom. Although the building also provides free, additional storage for bulky items, such as a bicycle, this unit has plenty of closet space. There is a large walk-in closet in the hallway that could, if a tenant desired, hold a computer and small desk. In addition, there is a linen closet across from it. Both closets have wood shelves.

The bathroom is at the end of the hallway. Like the kitchen, it is newly updated and includes a white vanity, a mirrored medicine chest, a bar of lights, a beige ceramic tile floor and a heating lamp.

The bedroom measures 15.5-by-11-foot bedroom. It is large enough to have a queen-size bed with room to spare for a bureau and a writing desk and chair. One wall has large windows with the view of the CBS building across the street. Another wall has a row of three closets.

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The vital stats

Address: McClurg Court Center, 333 E. Ontario St., Chicago

Size: One-bedroom, one-bath

Rent: $1,350

Security deposit: None. There is a $375, non-refundable administrative fee.